Adjustable height device for data processing equipment

ABSTRACT

A card punch for a data processing machine is mounted on a table which is supported by four legs, each of which is rectangular in cross section. Each leg at its lower end extends slidably into the upper end of one of four, identical, tubular extensions, which also are rectangular in cross section. A disc-shaped foot or skid is removably mounted in the lower end of each extension. The extensions support the equipment at a height from which it can be operated readily by a person standing at the table; and when the extensions are removed by sliding them off from the lower ends of the table legs, the latter then support the table at a lower level, which is convenient for operating the equipment from a seated position.

United States Patent Appl. No. Filed Patented Assignee ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT DEVICE FOR DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl Int. Cl Field 01 Smrch Reierences Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 603,474 5/1898 Sebold toe/144 108/148 X 4 108/146X 108/144X Primary Examiner-1=rancis K. Zugel Assistant Examiner-Glenn O. Finch Attorney-B. Edward Shlesinger ABSTRACT: A card punch for a data processing machine is mounted on a table which is supported by four legs, each of which is rectangular in cross section. Each leg at its lower end extends slidably into the upper end of one of four, identical, tubular extensions, which also are rectangular in cross section. A disc-shaped foot or skid is removably mounted in the lower end of each extension. The extensions support the equipment at a height from which it can be operated readily by a person standing at the table; and when the extensions are removed by sliding them off from the lower ends of the table legs, the latter then support the table at a lower level, which is convenient for operating the equipment from a seated position.

PATENTEU JULZ? l9?! FIG. 3

INVENTOR. VINCENT H. SWOYER ATTOR KV ADJUSTABLE HEIGHT DEVICE FOR DATA PROCESSING EQUIPMENT This invention relates to data processing equipment, and more particularly to means for adjusting the height of a typical card punch or similar device.

A typical card punch, or similar data processing machine, comprises a functional item of equipment, such as a punch/keyboard, mounted on a table supported by four legs each of which is rectangular in cross section. This table supports the card punch device in a convenient position, for example, waist high, so that an operator may remain seated while operating its keys.

However, by its very nature, such a device is often used by more than one individual, and, depending upon the complexity of a task, for varying periods of time. Since an operator may be busy performing other tasks during intervals between the use of the device, it may be extremely tiresome or disadvantageous for the operator to sit down, or to bend down, to reach the keys.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to obviate the need for an operator to bend down, or to seat himself each time the device is to be used. To this end it is an object of this invention to provide means for readily adjusting the height of the table to position the associated card punch or other data processing device, selectively at at least two different levels.

A more specific object of this invention is to provide. for a table or other support for a device of the type described, a plurality of detachable legs, which can be removably attached to the table, or other support, to elevate the keys of the device to a position where they can be manipulated comfortably by an operator while standing. i

' Other objects of the invention will become apparent hereinafter from the specification and from the recital of the appended claims particularly in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a vertically adjustable card punch table madefin accordance with one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 in FIG. I looking in the direction of the arrows; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring now to the drawing by numerals of reference, denotes generally a data processing machine comprising a conventional card punch 12, which is mounted in conventional manner on the upper surface of a rectangular, horizontally disposed plate or table top 14. Table top 14 is secured on the upper ends of four, tubular, rectangularly spaced legs 16. Each of the legs I6 is rectangular is cross section, and is fastened at its upper end to the underside of the top 14 adjacent one of its corners. Two spaced, parallel, rectangular frame members or sideplates 18 are fastened beneath top 14 to the confronting faces of legs 16 at opposite sides, respectively, of the table. A similar plate or frame member 20 is fastened beneath the rear edge of top 14 between the confronting faces of the two legs 16 at the rear of the machine, and at right angles to the plates 18.

As shown more clearly in FIG. 1, the lower ends of legs 16 project equal distances below the coplanar lower edges of members 18 and 20. These downwardly projecting portions of the legs 16 are slidably housable in the upper ends of four identical, tubular extensions 22. These extensions 22, which also are rectangular in cross section, are longer than the portions of the legs 16 that project beneath the plates 18 and 22; and-they have their upper ends engaged with the lower edges of the plates 18 and 20.

Removably mounted in the lower end of each tubular extension 22 is a foot or skid 24, which is made of a rigid metal or plastic. Each foot 24 comprises a disc-shaped head portion 26, which overlies the lower end of eachextension 22, and a 0 of each shoe 24 to project vertically upwardly therefrom into the lower end of the associated extension 22 is a generally V- shaped spring clamp 34. Each clamp 34 is made of spring steel, and has the upper ends of its two legs resiliently engaged as at 35 with opposite sides of the bore of the associated extension 22 frictionally to retain the associated shoe 24 therein.

The height or length of the tubular extensions 22 is selected so that, when the extensions are used as illustrated in FIG. I, the card punch 12 will be supported at a convenient level for operation by a person while standing. The extensions 22 may be removed merely by sliding them off of the lower ends of the legs 16 to permit the card punch 12 to be lowered to a level at which it can be operated conveniently by a person while seated. The feet 24 can then be removed from the extensions 22, and their spring clamps 34 can be inserted into the lower ends of the legs 16 to provide skids or feet therefore, when the card punch 10 is in its lowered position. Moreover, if desired the feet 24 can also be removed at any time to efiect at least a slight lowering of the card punch from either of its two abovedescribed positions.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that applicant has developed a relatively simple and inexpensive means for adjusting the operating height of a card punch of the type described.

I claim:

I. An adjustable height device for data processing equipment, comprising a table for supporting thereon the equipment,

said table having a top, a first set of spaced, parallel legs fastened to said top and projecting downwardly therefrom, and a second set'of legs telescopically engageable with the lower ends of said first set of legs to project equidistantly below said lower ends,

said second set of legs being removable from said first set of legs to lower the height of said table,

each of said second set of legs having an opening in its lower end,

and a foot for each of said second set of legs,

and a spring clip secured to each foot for removably securing each foot to one of said second set of legs,

each spring clip having spaced, divergent, resilient arms insertable frictionally into the opening in one of said second set of legs releasably to secure a foot thereon,

a plurality of rigid members extending transversely between said first set of legs below said top to securesaid first set of legs in spaced, parallel relation,

said members having coplanar lower edges spaced above I the lower ends of said first set of legs,

each of said second set of legs having a central bore extending downwardly from the upper end thereof,

said lower ends of said first set of legs being slidably disposed in the bores in said upper ends of said second set of legs so that the lower edges of said members rest on the upper ends of said second set of legs and thereby determine the height of said table top,

each of said first set of legs also having an opening in its lower end, and

each of said feet for said second set of legs being releasably fastenable to one of said first set of legs by inserting its spring clip into the opening in one of said first set of legs after the second set of legs has been removed from said first set. 

1. An adjustable height device for data processing equipment, comprising a table for supporting thereon the equipment, said table having a top, a first set of spaced, parallel legs fastened to said top and projecting downwardly therefrom, and a second set of legs telescopically engageable with the lower ends of said first set of legs to project equidistantly below said lower ends, said second set of legs being removable from said first set of legs to lower the height of said table, each of said second set of legs having an opening in its lower end, and a foot for each of said second set of legs, and a spring clip secured to each foot for removably securing each foot to one of said second set of legs, each spring clip having spaced, divergent, resilient arms insertable friCtionally into the opening in one of said second set of legs releasably to secure a foot thereon, a plurality of rigid members extending transversely between said first set of legs below said top to secure said first set of legs in spaced, parallel relation, said members having coplanar lower edges spaced above the lower ends of said first set of legs, each of said second set of legs having a central bore extending downwardly from the upper end thereof, said lower ends of said first set of legs being slidably disposed in the bores in said upper ends of said second set of legs so that the lower edges of said members rest on the upper ends of said second set of legs and thereby determine the height of said table top, each of said first set of legs also having an opening in its lower end, and each of said feet for said second set of legs being releasably fastenable to one of said first set of legs by inserting its spring clip into the opening in one of said first set of legs after the second set of legs has been removed from said first set. 